Members Statements
in the Ontario Legislature re: ODA Legislation

May 17, 2000

Here is an exchange which occurred between Liberal
Disability Critic Steve Peters and Premier Harris regarding the Ontarians
with Disabilities Act during Question Period on Wed., May 17, 2000.
By way of background, in January of 2000, Citizenship Minister Helen
Johns revealed that she was holding secret, invitation-only consultation
meetings on the Ontarians with Disabilities Act. Both the ODA Committee
and Opposition MPPs have been unable to get Minister Johns to reveal
whom she is consulting, or what they are suggesting to her.

As a result, MPP Steve Peters filed a request for relevant
documents on this secret consultation process under the Freedom of INformation
Act legislation. Minister Johns' office responded that there will be
a charge of some $450 which Mr. Peters must pay to get an answer in
the form of disclosure of the requested documents.

Here is what happened in the Ontario Legislature. As Mr.
Peters asked the supplemental question set out below, he had a cheque
delivered to the Premier on the floor of the Legislautre. :

Ontario Legislature Question Period May 17, 2000

Ontarians with Disabilities Legislation

Mr Steve Peters (Elgin-Middlesex-London): My question
is for the Premier. My question is about honour, integrity and being
a man of your word. Five years ago, you promised in writing that a Harris
government would enact an Ontarians with Disabilities Act within your
first term of office. You promised personally that
you would work with the Ontarians with Disabilities Act committee towards
developing that legislation. That was your personal promise, Premier.
You're now one year into your second term of office, half a decade,
two elections and three ministers since you promised action. Two broken
promises, Premier, and no legislation-and don't tell us Bill 83 was
legislation-and you continue to refuse to meet with the committee.

You talk about being a government that does what it says
it's going to do. Premier, you've broken your trust. You've broken your
word. Why won't you meet with the committee? Are you afraid to face
them?

As the Premier of this province, would you show some integrity
and keep your promise to the more than the one and half million persons
in this province with disabilities. I implore you, will you stand up
today and commit to one hour of your time to meet with the committee
to whom you made that promise and have not kept.

Hon Michael D. Harris (Premier): I think there
were maybe 10 or 11 questions contained in the preamble. Let me say
very clearly that I committed to bring legislation forward in our first
term of office and I did bring legislation forward in our first term
of office. It was debated. In fact, it had considerable consultation.
I was asked by the representatives of the disabled community if I would
withdraw the bill and have more
consultations. I honoured that commitment as well. Immediately upon
re-election, probably primarily on that commitment, we asked the new
minister to begin those consultations, which, of course is taking place.
I'm a little surprised, from a party that says we do too much too fast,
you're now telling me I'm too slow. But
we'll try and find the right balance of getting all of our commitments
done.

Mr Peters: Bill 83 was a joke. When you look at
the government's own website it doesn't say that it was withdrawn by
the government; it died on the order paper.

Premier, I have repeatedly asked the minister responsible
for disabilities issues, not only in this House but by letter, details
of her elusive action plan. I have asked her who the groups are she
claims to be meeting with and what the results are of those supposed
consultations.

Now, Premier, I've been forced to go through the freedom
of information, and you know what? You want $465 to get simple answers
to simple questions. It's absolutely appalling and undemocratic that
this government would see fit to charge money, rather than giving open
and honest answers to that question that both the opposition and the
public have a right to know. Answers and question period are an ancient
parliamentary right. Premier, will you save the taxpayers $465 and instruct
your minister to openly and honestly answer a question in this Legislature,
otherwise I'm sending the cheque over to you. Here's your money, Premier,
now will you please get me the answer to my questions. Where is the
minister on her action? When is this action plan going to be released?
With whom has the minister been consulting? What are the results of
these consultations? It's been six months since that action plan was
announced. The time is ticking. The time has come for action.

Hon Mr Harris: In addition to honouring the commitment
to bring the bill in and honouring the commitment to have more extensive
consultations to bring forward legislation, which your government refused
to do in five years, the NDP refused to do in five years, which is why
it befell our government, like so many things you
refused to do-in addition to doing that, without the legislation, we
brought in the Ontario disabilities support program. We've committed
$68.4 million over the next five years to address the needs of Ontarians
with Alzheimer's disease. We've provided direct funding to persons with
disabilities to enable them to
arrange and manage their own attendant services. We've provided 35 new
million in resources for more support and services for people. We've
committed a new workplace tax incentive to encourage businesses. I might
say, I have a cheque here for $465. If it doesn't come with strings
attached, like most of your
promises, the Minister of Finance will be pleased to cash it.